It is past time to make security a family affair. We have to think about it in broader terms than just locking the front door when you come in and checking it twice before retiring to bed. That is only the beginning. Even so, it is surprising just how many families don’t have a regimented routine for checking to make sure all the doors and windows are secure.
These same people routinely forget to lock their vehicle when they go to the store. Car thieves don’t have to bring elaborate tools to break into cars. They just go up and down the lot trying doors until they find one that is unlocked. It doesn’t take very long to find one.
It is every parent’s nightmare to come home and find their child missing without explanation. Not all such situations have a happy ending. That is why security has to be a family affair. And it has to cover more than the property. If you want to increase the security of your family, start here:
Security Starts at Home
To achieve anything like security for your family, it begins at home. Your home is the place where you can relax, stand down, and be safe from outside dangers. Begin by securing the property with outdoor security lighting. Thieves prefer the dark of night and shadows. Make your property less attractive by lighting it up like the 4th of July whenever uninvited guests step foot onto the property. While you’re at it, include two security cameras: one they can easily see and one they can’t. If they take out the one, the other will still be there to record the activity.
Make checking the doors and windows a part of everyone’s responsibilities. If a child is old enough to enter and exit a house without supervision, they are old enough to participate in its protection. Better yet, you can get one of the newer smart locks that can be controlled with smartphones. Everyone will want to check up on things and no one has to be locked out if they forget to grab their key on the way out the door. Making security interactive and contemporary makes everyone want to participate.
Trust Your Kids to Be Kids
It is vogue in some circles for parents to say that they trust their kids and will not spy on their actions. This is a recipe for disaster. Your kids are not responsible adults. They’re kids with brains that haven’t fully developed. You should trust them to be kids and nothing more.
One way to set your kids up for future success is to teach them accountability at an early age. Teach them that trust is something that is earned and also can be lost. They need to know that it is twice as hard to gain trust once it has been broken.
When you give them their first smartphone or smartwatch, lay down strict ground rules and make sure they know that breaking those rules means they lose access to the device. One of those rules is to never turn off the tracking functions. If they are ever caught tampering with the feature, trust is broken and privileges are rescinded. When it comes to the safety of your kids, never compromise or negotiate. It can never be open for debate.
Online Protocols
Your children are going to make some unfortunate mistakes online that will follow them into their adulthood. Make sure those mistakes are minor ones by establishing online protocols such as never posting vacation plans on social media. This alerts thieves that the house will be empty. For a specific period of time.
Make sure everyone in the family knows about phishing attacks and how to spot and defeat them. The easiest way for a thief to get your password is for you to give it to them. They have only to ask. And they have numerous ways of doing that while keeping you from suspecting their true identity and intentions. Make sure that when it comes to online security, everyone is on the same page.
Your home is no place for nightmares. Keep your family safe from your worst nightmare by securing the property, holding your kids accountable, and setting up online protocols that everyone can understand and follow.
